SENATE BILL REPORT

                            HB 1244

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE, MARCH 26, 1993

Brief Description:  Providing for payments for time lost from work while attending a medical examination for industrial insurance.

SPONSORS: Representatives Franklin, Heavey, King, G. Cole, Springer, Jones and Veloria

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE & LABOR

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LABOR & COMMERCE

Majority Report:  Do pass. 

     Signed by Senators Moore, Chairman; Prentice, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Fraser, McAuliffe, Pelz, Prince, Sutherland, and Vognild.

Staff:  Dave Cheal (786‑7576)

Hearing Dates: March 26, 1993

BACKGROUND:

An injured worker making a claim under the industrial insurance system must submit to a medical examination when the examination is requested by the Department of Labor and Industries or the worker's self-insured employer.  If the worker misses work without pay while attending the examination, the worker receives temporary disability compensation.  The worker is not entitled to his or her usual wages for the time lost from work.

SUMMARY:

The compensation received by an injured worker who is absent from work without pay while attending a medical examination requested by the Department of Labor and Industries or the worker's self-insured employer is changed from temporary disability compensation to compensation that is equal to his or her usual wages.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

Fairness to injured workers who have returned to work, but must attend these medical exams dictates they should not be penalized financially.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Senator Franklin (pro)